Hand tool hanger rack

ABSTRACT

A hand tool hanger rack includes an elongated hanger rack for connection to a wall and multiple receiving blocks slidably connected to the hanger rack. Each receiving block has a body, an extension hole axially defined through the body and a side hole radially defined through a side face of the body to communicate with the extension hole such that a hand tool is alternately received in the extension hole from either the extension hole or the side hole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tool rack, and more particularly to ahand tool hanger rack capable of avoiding interference between twoadjacent tools when positioning the tool on the tool rack.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A hand tool hanger rack is suspended on a wall so that the worker isable to organize tools of the same purpose on the hanger rack tofacilitate the work efficiency. The hand tool hanger rack is providedwith an elongated rack adapted for connection to a wall and multiplereceiving seats firmly formed on the elongated rack. Each receiving seatincludes a through hole defined to allow extension of the shank of thehand tool. However, when there are multiple hanger racks are mounted onthe wall, only limited space is available for inserting the hand toolsinto the through holes in the receiving seats. Therefore, the worker hasto move aside some of the hand tools to clear out space for insertion ofadditional hand tools, which is troublesome and waste of time as well asenergy. Besides, the receiving seats are firmly mounted on the hangerrack such that it is impossible for the worker to change the arrangementof the receiving seat so as to maximize utility of the available spaceon the hanger rack.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide animproved hand tool hanger rack to mitigate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an improvedhand tool hanger rack with an elongated hanger rack and multipleslidable receiving block slidably connected to the hanger rack and eachslidably receiving block having an extension hole axially defined in thereceiving block and a side hole radially defined in the receiving blockto communicate with the extension hole such that the worker is able tochoose to extend directly the shank of the hand tool into the extensionhole or the handle of the hand tool into the side hole especially spaceon top of and below the elongated hanger rack is limited.

In a different objective of the present invention, it is noted that theside hole has a dimension smaller than that of the extension.

In a still different objective of the present invention, the receivingblock is movable relative to the elongated hanger rack such that theworker is able to redesign the space on the elongated hanger rack to fitthe size of the hand tools.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hand tool hanger rack with handtools clamped by the hanger rack of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are a perspective view showing a portion of the handtoll hanger rack of the present invention, wherein the hand tool isinsertable from the side hole of the receiving block of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the receiving block;

FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C are schematic top plan views showing theattachment/detachment of the hand tool by the receiving block of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective view showing a portion of the hand tollhanger rack in a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein thehand tool is insertable from the side hole of the receiving block of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the receiving block in the secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C are schematic top plan views showing theattachment/detachment of the hand tool by the receiving block of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 8A and 8A are perspective views of the third embodiment of thehand tool hanger rack of the present invention, wherein the hand tool isable to be attached to/detached from the hanger rack of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the receivingblock of the present invention;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are perspective views of the fourth embodiment of thehand tool hanger rack of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the receivingblock of the present invention;

FIG. 12A is a schematic cross sectional view of the fifth embodiment ofthe hanger rack of the present invention, wherein the hand tool is ableto be attached to/detached from the receiving block of the presentinvention;

FIG. 12B is an enlarged schematic cross sectional view showing thestructure of the hanger rack and the receiving block;

FIG. 13A is a perspective view showing how the hanger rack is mountedonto the wall; and

FIG. 13B is an exploded perspective view showing the hanger rack isaffixed to the wall via a threaded bolt.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. 1, it is noted that the hand tool hanger rack inaccordance with the present invention includes an elongated hanger rack(10) with two threaded holes (11) defined through a side face on twoopposed ends of the hanger rack (10) and multiple slidable receivingblocks (20) slidably connected to the hanger rack (10). Screw drivers(30) of different purposes are clamped by the receiving blocks (20).

With reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, it is noted that the hanger rack(10) of the present invention includes two ledges, a top ledge (12) anda bottom ledge (13), formed on a rear side face of the hanger rack (10)such that a top shoulder (14) is formed on a top side of the hanger rack(10) and a bottom shoulder (15) is formed on a bottom side of the hangerrack (10).

Each receiving block (20) has a body (21), a top hook (22) extendingfrom a top side of the body (21) to correspond to the top shoulder (14)and a bottom hook (23) extending from a bottom side of the body (21) tocorrespond to the bottom shoulder (15). The body (21) further has anextension hole (212) axially defined through the body (21), a slit (213)defined in a side face defining the extension hole (212) and a side hole(214) defined in a side face defining the extension hole (212) tocommunicate with the extension hole (212) and to be opposed to the slit(213). In order to facilitate the access to the extension hole (212), anarcuate guiding face (215) is defined in a front face (211) of the body(21).

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B and still using FIG. 3 for reference, it isnoted that after the assembly of the receiving block (20) to the hangerrack (10), the top shoulder (14) is received in the top hook (22) andthe bottom shoulder (15) is received in the bottom hook (23). A free endof the top hook (22) is abutted against a top side face of the top ledge(12) and a free end of the bottom hook (23) is abutted against a sideface of the bottom ledge (13) such that the receiving block (20) is ableto be slidable relative to the hanger rack (10). Furthermore, the workeris able to laterally extend the shank (31) of a hand tool into theextension hole (212) from the side hole (214). The advantage of lateralextension of the hand tool shank (31) is that when there is limitedspace available above the hanger rack (10), the worker does not need torearrange the space and still has sufficient space for positioning thehand tool. Further notice is directed to the depiction of FIGS. 4A to4C, it is noted that the dimension of the side hole (214) is smallerthan that of the extension hole (212) such that when the shank (31) ofthe hand tool is to be extended into the extension hole (212), twoopposed sides (A,B) of the body (21) sandwiching the side hole (214)will be temporarily expanded by the insertion of the shank (31). Thenafter the shank (31) is received in the extension hole (212), the twoopposed sides (A,B) return to their original positions due to resilienceforce of the two opposed sides (A,B). The existence of the slit (213)also helps improve the resilience force of the two opposed sides (A,B).

With reference to FIGS. 5, 6, 7A, 7B and 7C, it is noted that the hangerrack (10) is substantially the same as that shown in the previousembodiment so that detailed description thereto is omitted.

Attention is directed to the structure of the receiving block (20A), itis noted that the receiving block (20A) is now provided with a body(21A), an extension hole (212A) defined through the body (21A), a slit(213A) defined in a side face defining the extension hole (212A) and aside hole (214A) defined in a side face defining the extension hole(212A) to communicate with the extension hole (212A) and to be opposedto the slit (213A). In order to facilitate access to the extension hole(212A), an oblique guiding face (215A) is defined in a front face (211A)of the body (21A). Besides, to prevent accidental detachment of the handtool from the side hole (214A), a sharp edge (2151A) is formed on an endof the oblique guiding face (215A). Therefore, when the shank (31) ofthe hand tool is inserted into the extension hole (212A) from the sidehole (214A), the two oblique guiding faces (215A) help the lateralextension of the shank (31) into the extension hole (212A). Thereafter,the two sharp edges (2151A) secure the shank (31) inside the extensionhole (212A).

With reference to FIGS. 8A, 8B and 9, it is noted that the hanger rack(10) is substantially the same as that shown in the first embodiment ofthe present invention. The only difference is that the receiving block(20B) now has a top hook (22B) extending outward therefrom to correspondto and receive therein the top shoulder (14) and an abutting arm (23B)extending to abut a side face of the hanger rack (10). Thus with onlyone hook (22B) receiving the top shoulder (14) of the hanger rack (10)and the abutting arm (23B) abutting the side face of the hanger rack(10), the receiving block (20B) can still be slidable relative to thehanger rack (10).

With reference to FIGS. 10A, 10B and 11, it is noted that the hangerrack (10A) has an elongated body (14A), a first bent (12A) formed on atop face of the body (14A) of the hanger rack (10A) and a second bent(13A) formed on a bottom face of the body (14A) of the hanger rack (10A)such that a first track (15A) is formed between the first bent (12A) andthe body (14A) and a second track (16A) is formed between the secondbent (13A) and the body (14A).

The front structure of the receiving block (20C) in this embodiment issubstantially the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The rearstructure of the receiving block (20C) differs from what is shown inFIG. 1. The receiving block (21C) now is provided with an oblique toparm (22C) extending upward from the body (21C), a first cylinder (221C)formed on a free end face of the oblique top arm (22C), an obliquebottom arm (23C) extending downward from the body (21C) and a secondcylinder (231C) formed on a free end face of the oblique bottom arm(23C).

The first cylinder (221C) of the oblique top arm (22C) is slidablyreceived in the first track (15A) and the second cylinder (231C) isslidably received in the second track (16A) so that after the hand toolshank is received inside the body (21C) from either the extension holeor the side hole of the receiving block (20C), the worker is able toslide the receiving block (20C) along the hanger rack (10A).

With reference to FIGS. 12A and 12B, it is noted that the hand toolhanger rack (10B) of the present invention in a different embodiment isshown. In this embodiment, in order to enhance the rigidity of the handtool hanger rack of the present invention, a substrate (11B) issandwiched between the elongated hanger rack (112B) and the wall (notnumbered). The substrate (11B) has multiple reinforced extensions (111B)extending outward from a side face of the substrate (11B) and multiplelaterally defined first connection holes (1111B) each defined in acorresponding one of the reinforced extensions (111B) to correspond toand align with one of second connection holes (1121B) centrally definedin the hanger rack (112B). A connection element (14B), such as athreaded bolt, is extended through the aligned first connection hole(1111B) of the substrate (11B) and the second connection hole (1121B) ofthe hanger rack (112B) to secure the hanger rack (112B) to the substrate(11B).

After the hanger rack (112B) is secured to the substrate (11B),receiving blocks (20D) are then slidably connected to the hanger rack(112B) via the top hook (22D) receiving the top shoulder (12B) of thehanger rack (112B) and the bottom hook (23D) receiving the bottomshoulder (131B) of the hanger rack (112B).

Due to the existence of the reinforced extensions (111B), when theweight of the hand tool is heavy, the reinforced extensions (111B) areable to reinforce the supporting force of the hanger rack to the weightof the hand tool.

With reference to FIGS. 13A and 13B, it is noted that retaining threadedbolts (40) are extended through the threaded holes (11) of the hangerrack (10B) and into a side face of the wall (not numbered) so as tosecure the hanger rack (10B) onto the wall.

From the aforementioned description, the advantage of using the handtool hanger rack is that even there is only little room available on topof the hand tool that is already attached to the hanger rack, theoperator may till attach the hand tool to the hanger rack from the sidehole of the receiving block.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerouscharacteristics and advantages of the present invention have been setforth in the foregoing description, together with details of thestructure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrativeonly, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape,size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention tothe full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms inwhich the appended claims are expressed.

1. A hand tool hanger rack comprising: an elongated hanger rack adaptedto firmly connect to a wall; and multiple receiving blocks slidablyconnected to the hanger rack, each receiving block having a body, anextension hole axially defined through the body, a slit defined in aside face defining the extension hole and a side hole radially definedthrough a side face of the body to communicate with the extension holeand be opposed to the slit,such that a hand tool is alternately receivedin the extension hole from either the extension hole or the side hole.2. The hand tool hanger rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein an arcuateguiding face is formed on two opposed faces sandwiching the side hole tofacilitate access to the extension hole.
 3. (canceled)
 4. The hand toolhanger rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hanger rack is providedwith a top shoulder extending from a top side thereof and a bottomshoulder extending from a bottom side thereof, each of the receivingblocks is provided with a top hook formed on a top side of the body toreceive therein the top shoulder and a bottom hook formed on a bottomside of the body to receive therein the bottom shoulder so that thereceiving block is slidable relative to the hanger rack.
 5. The handtool hanger rack as claimed in claim 2, wherein the hanger rack isprovided with a top shoulder extending from a top side thereof and abottom shoulder extending from a bottom side thereof, each of thereceiving blocks is provided with a top hook formed on a top side of thebody to receive therein the top shoulder and a bottom hook formed on abottom side of the body to receive therein the bottom shoulder so thatthe receiving block is slidable relative to the hanger rack.
 6. The handtool hanger rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein an oblique guiding faceis formed on two opposed faces sandwiching the side hole to facilitateaccess to the extension hole and a sharp edge is formed on a free endface of the oblique guiding face so that the hand tool is prevented fromfalling out of the receiving block from the side hole.
 7. (canceled) 8.The hand tool hanger rack as claimed in claim 4, wherein an obliqueguiding face is formed on two opposed faces sandwiching the side hole tofacilitate access to the extension hole and a sharp edge is formed on afree end face of the oblique guiding face so that the hand tool isprevented from falling out of the receiving block from the side hole. 9.The hand tool hanger rack as claimed in claim 5, wherein an obliqueguiding face is formed on two opposed faces sandwiching the side hole tofacilitate access to the extension hole and a sharp edge is formed on afree end face of the oblique guiding face so that the hand tool isprevented from falling out of the receiving block from the side hole.10. The hand tool hanger rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hangerrack is provided with a top shoulder extending from a top side thereofand a bottom shoulder extending from a bottom side thereof, each of thereceiving blocks is provided with a top hook formed on a top side of thebody to receive therein the top shoulder and an abutting arm extendingfrom a bottom side of the body to abut a side face of the hanger rack sothat the receiving block is slidable relative to the hanger rack. 11.(canceled)
 12. (canceled)
 13. The hand tool hangear rack as claimed inclaim 2, wherein the hanger rack is provided with a first track formedon a top side thereof and a second track formed on a bottom sidethereof, each receiving block is provided with an oblique top armextending upward from the body, a first cylinder formed on a free endface of the oblique top arm to be slidably received in the first track,an oblique bottom arm extending downward from the body and a secondcylinder formed on a free end face of the oblique bottom arm to beslidably received in the second track so that the receiving block isslidable relative to the hanger rack.
 14. (canceled)
 15. The hand toolhangar rack as claimed in claim 8, wherein the hanger rack is providedwith a first track formed on a top side thereof and a second trackformed on a bottom side thereof, each receiving block is provided withan oblique top arm extending upward from the body, a first cylinderformed on a free end face of the oblique top arm to be slidably recivedin the first track, an oblique bottom arm extending downward from thebody and a second cylinder formed on a free end face of the obliquebottom arm to be slidably received in the second track so that thereceiving block is slidable relative to the hangar rack.
 16. The handtool hanger rack as claimed in claim, 9 wherein the hanger rack isprovided with a first track formed on a top side thereof and a secondtrack formed on a bottom side therof, each receiving block is providedwith an oblique top arm extending upward from the body, a first cylinderformed on a free end face of the oblique top arm to be slidably receivedin the first track, an oblique bottom arm extending downward from thebody and a second cylinder formed on a free end face of the obliquebottom arm to be slidably received in the second track so that thereceiving block is slidable relative to the hangar rack.
 17. The handtool hanger rack as claimed in claim 8, wherein a substrate is securlyattached to a side face of the hanger rack to be opposite to thereceiving blocks, the substrate is provided with multiple reinforcedextensions formed on a side face of the substrate and first connectionholes each defined in a corresponding one of the reinforcing extensions,each first connection hole aligns with a corresponding one of secondconnection holes defined in the hanger rack suh that after thereinforced extensions are extended into the second connection holes ofthe hanger rack, securing elements are extended into the aligned firstconnection hole and the second connnection hole and the secondconnection hole to secure the substrate to the hanger rack so thatsupporting force of the hanger rack to the hand tool is increased due toexistence of the substrate.
 18. The hand tool hanger rack as claimed inclaim 9, wherein a substrate is securely attached to a side face of thehanger rack to be opposite to the receiving blocks, the substrate isprovided with multiple reinforced extensions formed on a side face ofthe substrate and first connection holes defined in a corresponding oneof the reinforced extensions, each first connection hole aligns with acorresponding one of the second connection holes defined in the hangerrack such that after the reinforced extensions are extended into thesecond connection holes of the hanger rack, securing elements areextended into the aligned first connection hole and the secondconnection hole to secure the substrate to the hanger rack so thatsupporting force of the hanger rack to the hand tool is increased due toexistence of the substrate.
 19. (canceled)
 20. (canceled)